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Professional
development |
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The
BBPA encourages its members and other British-Bangladeshis
to continually develop their skills by organizing educational
and development training workshops and seminars. For example,
our Job Fair for Ethnic Minority Graduates consisted
of a programme of workshops designed to ease the transition
of ethnic minority graduates from higher education to professional
careers. The project was partly funded by the Kings Cross
Community Development Project and included participation from
leading graduate employers such as ABN Amro Bank, the Civil
Services, the Armed Forces and the Metropolitan Police.
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Career
advice and mentoring |
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The
BBPA has worked with community organisations in project to
encourage educational attainments within the Bangladeshi community.
For example, we have worked with the Tower Hamlets Education
Business Partnerships (EBP) to pilot a mentoring programme
for 14-15 year old GCSE students of Bangladeshi origin. The
programme was launched in two schools in Tower Hamlets, and
aimed to help students develop their self-confidence, broaden
their horizons, provide general assistence
in supporting study, preparation for examinations and decision
making The mentors were drawn from the BBPA membership, with
training provided by the EBP
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Networking |
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The
BBPA's calendar of social events provides a forum for young
British-Bangladeshi professionals to gather, exchange views
and share experiences. These have included a garden parties
in Central London, lunches at prestigious Bangladeshi restaurants,
gala dinners and the immensely popular biannual Thames Cruise.
These events usually feature prominent Bangladeshis who are
encouraged to take about their life experiences with a view
to acting as role models.
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Charitable
Fundraising |
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The
BBPA actively supports charitable organisations that are engaged
in educational and social projects both in the United Kingdom
and Bangladesh. For example, we have raised funds for projects
such as the Action Aid Bangladesh Floor Relief Project,
Asian Women's Gardening Project and the Mayor of
Camden's Charitable Trust.
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Community
involvement |
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The
BBPA has participated in the Kings Cross Forum, an organization
that attempts to channel the opinions of the diverse range
of ethnic and community organisations in the London's Kings
Cross area to key planning decisions being made under the
Government's Single Regeneration Budget.
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Developing
cultural awareness |
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The
BBPA is committed to increasing the awareness of Bengali cultural
heritage amongst the second-generation British-Bangladeshis
who represent the membership of the BBPA, and to the wider
UK community. For example, we have collaborated with the award
winning Waves Dance Company to present a production
of Rain - a music and dance performance event that
represented a fusion of Bengali traditions with western contemporary
themes.
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Research
activities |
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The
BBPA is committed to supporting academic and social research
projects relating to the economic and social well beings of
British-Bangladeshis. Many of our members are actively engaged
in social science research. The BBPA as an organization has
for example worked with the Centre for Migration Studies at
Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London. |
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Online
forum |
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The
BBPA hosts a highly successful electronic discussion group
members@bbpa.co.uk
that is also used to disseminate community events and
current job vacancies.
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